Everyone’s favorite ogre comes to Folsom

FOLSOM — “Shrek The Musical, based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks film, brings the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to life on stage. Don’t miss this unusual love story at Three Stages March 14-16.

In a faraway kingdom turned upside down, things get ugly when an unseemly ogre — not a handsome prince — shows up to rescue a feisty princess. Throw in a donkey who won’t shut up, a villain with a short temper, a cookie with an attitude and more than a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand … and his name is Shrek.

In 2001 a well-loved, but lesser known children’s book became an overnight sensation when DreamWorks Animation launched the film “Shrek” to worldwide acclaim. More than 70 years earlier, famed illustrator William Steig began his career spanning over 600 drawings and 117 covers for The New Yorker before beginning a late-in-life career as a children’s book author and illustrator. In 1990, the semi-retired illustrator penned the now famous story about a loveable ogre and his quest to reclaim his home from the evil Lord Farquaad. Along the way, the ogre meets the love of his life and, with his life-long best friend, takes a conventional fairy-tale and turns it upside down.

“Shrek The Musical” debuted in the summer of 2008 at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre before opening on Broadway Dec. 14, 2008. During its Broadway run it played more than 500 performances, garnered eight 2009 Tony Award nominations and ranked as one of the top 10 highest grossing musicals of 2009.

The role of everyone’s favorite swamp-dwelling ogre Shrek will be played by Perry Sook. Whitney Winfield will play the feisty Princess Fiona. Jeremy Gaston is Shrek’s lovably annoying best friend Donkey and Christian Marriner plays the vertically challenged villain Lord Farquaad.

“Shrek The Musical” features a book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire (“Rabbit Hole,” “Good People”), music by Olivier Award-winner Jeanine Tesori (“Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Caroline, or Change”). It is directed by Stephen Sposito who recently served as associated director of the current Broadway revival “How To Succeed In Business” starring Daniel Radcliff. Sets and costumes are based on the Tony Award winning designs by Tim Hatley (“Private Lives,” “Spamalot”) and Chris Bailey will recreate the original choreography by Josh Prince (“The Bridge Project,” “The Jerry Springer Opera”).

“Shrek The Musical” was initiated when Sam Mendes, a big fan of the first Shrek film, suggested the idea of creating a musical to DreamWorks Animation’s Jeffrey Katzenberg around the time the second film was in production. The musical is produced by NETworks Presentations, LLC, founded in 1995 by Kenneth Gentry, Seth Wenig and Scott Jackson.

“Shrek The Musical” will be performed at Three Stages at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 14; 8 p.m. on Friday, March 15; 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 16; and 1:30 and 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 16. Tickets are $45 to $65 with premium tickets available for $79. Purchase tickets online at threestages.net or from Three Stages ticket office at (916) 608-6888 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and two hours before show time. Three Stages is located on the west side of Folsom Lake College campus in Folsom, facing East Bidwell Street.